Types of Flanges

A flange is an external or internal ridge, or rim , for strength, as the flange of an ironbeam such as an I-beam or a T-beam; or for attachment to another object, as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, or on the lens mount of a camera; or for a flange of a rail car or tramwheel. Thus flanged wheels are wheels with a flange on one side to keep the wheels from running off the rails. The term "flange" is also used for a kind of tool used to form flanges. Pipes with flanges can be assembled and disassembled easily.